In an exhilarating climax to the Hard Rock Bet 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Justin Allgaier of JR Motorsports seized the day, snatching the lead on the final lap of overtime. He managed to stave off ex-teammate Sam Mayer, delivering a victory that was nothing short of a nail-biting sprint to the finish.
The day had begun with Kyle Larson, a previous NASCAR Cup Series champion, seeming poised to repeat his triumph in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race the previous night. Larson’s No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet had led an impressive 132 of the 201 laps, pulling ahead by a 15-second margin. However, with just eight laps left, a caution flag was raised, tightening up the field for the final overtime restart.
Larson chose the bottom lane for the restart, with Mayer’s No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford lining up directly behind him. The drama unfolded as the green flag marked the final two laps. Mayer’s car collided with Larson’s, throwing Larson’s Chevrolet off course. This provided the perfect opportunity for Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill and Allgaier to surge forward, with Hill initially taking the lead. However, Allgaier managed to overtake Hill on the last lap, securing his first top-five finish in 16 previous Homestead races and back-to-back victories for the current series champion.
Allgaier, 39, gave credit to his team for the victory, acknowledging that it was a challenging day. He said, “I just feel like this place has gotten me so many times. I was actually bummed to see the caution flag come out but it worked out in my favor.”
Expressing his disappointment, Larson, who finished fourth, commented on the incident with Mayer, “I can’t go when my rear tires are off the ground. I did everything I thought I could and the No. 41 just lagged back and slammed into me. Bummer, but cool to have had that big lead at the end.”
The final caution flag was triggered by a spin from polesitter Taylor Gray, leaving only five drivers on the lead lap. The last pit stops were critical for those chasing Larson. Twelve cars emerged on the lead lap, each hoping to make a difference in the closing sprint.
The day proved extra special for Allgaier, as he not only took home the trophy but also bagged the first $100,000 Dash 4 Cash bonus check from series sponsor Xfinity. The second of the Dash 4 Cash races is up next at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, with Allgaier, Mayer, Hill, and Sheldon Creed of the Haas Factory Team vying for the next $100,000 bonus.
Allgaier now leads the championship standings by 29 points over Mayer, boasting multiple victories in 2025, a first for any series driver this year. The NASCAR Xfinity Series will continue next Saturday evening with the Marine Corps 250 at Martinsville Speedway. Defending race winner Aric Almirola will be one to watch in the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.